September 28, 2011 Electronic Edition Volume X, Issue 3
Sunday Services – 10:00 am
October 2: “Curiouser and Curiouser” Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
We are each ultimately and always strangers to each other. That could scare us, or it could be a source of inspiration, strength and forgiveness.
October 9: “Is God Just An Imaginary Friend?” Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
Second in our series on Questioning and Questing: Exploring Theology. The title says it all. Bring a friend.
October 16: “Enjoy Your Power” Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
During Hurricane Irene, we lost electrical power in Norwell for several days. When I got it back on, a sales clerk uttered this great line. What do we think of power? How do we use and abuse it in our personal lives and in our institutions?
October 23: “Working On It” Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
Inspired by a beautiful sculpture in the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel that shows an angel assisting a human. Third in our series on Questioning and Questing: Exploring Theology. We explore the ideas of 19th century mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg.
CIRCLE FOR COMPASSION
A Mid-Week Moment for Peace
This once-a-month evening worship service is inspired by Karen Armstrong’s book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life and the Charter for Compassion movement. Each gathering will be focused on cultivating compassion for both ourselves and others. You are welcome to attend the full series, or just one or two sessions.
These services will take place in the Meetinghouse on the second Wednesday of each month (starting October 12) from 6:45-7:30 pm. For more information, please contact Rev. Vicki at .
CARING CORNER
Our hearts and prayers continue to be with Nick Metzger and the Metzger family. Nicky would love to get cards or postcards at:
Nick Metzger
6W Room 602
Children’s Hospital of Boston
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
You can also follow his progress and sign his guest book atWATER MUSIC
Our John McCann will bring a group of his talented young musicians from Tufts University to play a brief “Concert at High Tide”. (George Frederic Handel would approve!) It will be held on the lawn facing the beautiful foliage along the historic North River. This will take place on Saturday, October 1 at 1 pm at Scott and Marcia Babcock’s home (86 Old Meetinghouse Lane, Norwell). There is no rain date. Arrive early, as parking is limited. Carpool if you can. Those coming early will be rewarded with “box seats” on the enclosed porch overlooking the river.
ORGAN CONCERT
Six members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will be performing an organ recital at First Parish on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm. Organists from North Easton, Brockton, Taunton, Weymouth, and Westborough will be performing along with Berni Nadeau, former Music Director at First Parish. The concert includes selections by Bach, Mendelssohn, Franck and Gerber. The concert is free but donations will be gratefully accepted.
ALLIANCE NEWS
We welcome everyone to attend the Book Review on Wednesday, October 19 at 10 am with Reverend Vicki in the Fogg Parlor. Alliance dues of $10 are now being accepted.
CIRCLE DINNERS ON OCTOBER 22
Hosts and guests are needed for small group pot-luck dinners in people's homes. It's a great time to get to know people in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. We'd love to have one in the Parish Hall for families and kids of all ages if there is enough interest. Please sign up with Mary Mercier or Patty Crumley at coffee hour, or call or email either of us. Hope to see you at one of the dinners!
FROM THE DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Immigration as a Moral Issue
Delegates at the 2010 UUA General Assembly in Minneapolis, MN selected "Immigration as a Moral Issue" to be their 2010-2014 Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI). First Parish Church in Hingham (Old Ship) will be offering a six-week course using the study guide developed by the UUA to help congregations and individuals engage in this issue. The curriculum addresses topics such as factors contributing to human migration, international and U.S. law, myths and realities concerning immigration, the treatment of immigrants, and actions we might take to address this complex issue.
We invite members of our neighboring congregations to join us. We will meet in the Parish House Parlor, 107 Main Street, Hingham. We request a one-time annual donation of $35 for participation in adult education classes. The first class will begin at 7:30 pm, Thursday, October 6 and end at 9:00 pm. Our schedule is as follows:
October 6 Week One: Understanding the Causes of Migration
October 13 Week Two: History of Immigration in the U.S.
October 20 Week Three: Economics of (Im)migration
October 27Week Four: Security, Enforcement, and Human Rights
November 3Week Five: Who Benefits from a Broken System?
November 10 Week Six: Seeking Solutions
For information or to sign up, please contact:
Eva 781-749-0485
Ursula 781-826-2031
Your participation is welcome even if you cannot attend every class; we suggest, however, that you keep up by reading the handouts for each session. Please let us know whether you plan to attend and give us your e-mail address so that we can send you the handouts for the first session.
CALLING ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS… Save the date for this year’s Church Council dinner: Tuesday, November 8 at 7 pm. More details to follow!
HELEN FOGG SERVICE COMMITTEE
Our first Second Sunday was a success! The money collected from you in the plate for the Meals on Wheels program at Old Colony Elder Services (which services the towns of Hanover, Marshfield, Pembroke, Rockland, Duxbury and Hanson among others) was $768.00 which the Fogg Service Committee rounded up to $1,000. Now THAT is powerful outreach that really makes a difference, thanks to YOU. Old Colony serves 1200 meals a day, 5 days a week to people who have disabilities, are home bound or are low-income elders.
Two more recent thank you notes for monies the Fogg Service Committee donated in your name last church year:
“Thank you so much for generously responding to our request for assistance. We received the gift of $1,500 from the First Parish Church of Norwell on June 24, 2011 and have credited it to the Tornado Relief Fund for Western Mass. “Your contribution will be used to support the local nonprofits providing critical services to those in need as well as to those nonprofits affected by the tornado damage. Your gift, pooled with others, will allow the Foundation to make essential grants to meet both immediate and longer term needs. Standing together we will help our region recover fully from this disaster.”
Cordially, Kristin B. Leuts,
Vice President of Philanthropic Services of the Community Foundation of Western MA
In handwriting, she added “Thank you for supporting Western MA! As a fellow UU myself, it's great to see this gift!”
“On Behalf of South Shore Women's Resource Center, I want to thank you most sincerely for your continued support and your generous donation of $500.00... Your donation helps us to achieve our basic overall mission, which is to end violence against women and children. South Shore Women's Resource Center's programs focus directly upon counseling, group support, court advocacy, child & adolescent counseling, 24-hour hotline services, emergency safe home services, and community outreach. Additionally, we provide a small food pantry at our offices where families in need can access items they cannot afford.”
Warmest regards, Kathy Harriman-Spear, Program Director
Bev Gardner, Chair of the Helen Fogg Service Committee
Scott Babcock, Vice-Chair
Members: Marcia Babcock, Noel Constantino, Pat Bordewieck, Paul Bourque, Carrie Brandon, Pat Crumley, Barbara Meacham, Mary Mercier, Dorothy and Bill Montuori, Sue Robinson (Parish Committee liaison), Amy Stephenson, Jack Wallace and Jane and Stan Wilderoter
For information on the church’s religious education program for both adults and children, please visit the “RE Everyday” blog at
THEMED GIFT BASKETS FOR THE HOLIDAY FAIR
Fall is here, so it’s time to think about gift baskets! We are collecting any unneeded empty baskets which you might have- medium size and especially large and extra-large. Bring to church on any Sunday. Thank you!
These will be used by those of you who would like to collect new items with a theme (movie time, for the birds, tea time, etc.), which we will arrange in a basket to sell at the Holiday Fair on November 19. If you wish to give money and leave the shopping to us, let Deanna Riley know- she makes beautiful gift baskets!
Bev Gardner () and Deanna Riley ()
THE JAMES LIBRARY & CENTER FOR THE ARTS
In the Art Gallery:
The Coastal Printmakers October 7-31. A group show by South Shore printmakers to benefit the library. Free opening reception on Friday, October 7 (6-8 pm).
Mark Your Calendars
Community Open House
Friday, October 21, 6:30-8 p.m.
Bring a friend and see what's new at the James this year. Enjoy live music, food, and more. Visit for the full calendar of events.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS:
Saturday, October 1: Concert on the North River at the Babcock’s, 1 pm
Sunday, October 2: Adult Bible Study, Fogg Parlor, 9 am
Special Parish Meeting, Meetinghouse, 11:30 am
The Activities Committee will meet briefly in the office after the Special Parish Meeting.
Wednesday, October 5: Alliance Board Meeting, Fogg Parlor, 10 am
First Parish Book Club, Fogg Parlor, 7-9 pm
Sunday, October 9: Helen Fogg Service Committee, Fogg Parlor, 11:30 am
Tuesday, October 11: Invested Funds Committee, Skylight Room, 7-9 pm
Wednesday, October 12: Circle of Compassion, Meetinghouse, 6:45-7:30 pm
Sunday, October 16: Adult Bible Study, Fogg Parlor, 9 am
Organ Concert, Meetinghouse, 3 pm
Wednesday, October 19: Alliance Book Review, Fogg Parlor, 10 am
The deadline for the next hard-copy edition of The Spire is Monday, October 10th.
For more information, or to review archived issues of The Spire, go to
The full First Parish calendar can be accessed online at the website by selecting “News” then scrolling to the calendar option.